Utilities are one of the biggest bills in the household, and the most important. I have been trying so many different things with this. I live in a one bedroom apartment and when I first moved in the light bill was running about $250. I have cut it down to averaging $150, sometimes even less. Here is a list of things that I have done that worked; I have also found a couple of other ideas from family and friends.
- Use energy efficient bulbs. This made the biggest difference in my utility bills.
- Change filters regularly. You don’t want the AC/Heat working harder then it has to. I have even recently seen the reusable filters, I think I will be trying them soon.
- Use fans during the summer to create a wind chill effect that will make your home more comfortable. If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort.
- When it is cold, turn off kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans within 20 minutes after you are done cooking or bathing, to retain heated air. When it is cold you can also open the blinds and curtains. The sun heats up a room fast. (Close them up quickly when the sun goes down–it takes the heat with it!)
- Set AC/Heat to one temp, unless you will be gone all day. You can set it a little cooler/hotter when you are gone. The few hours you are out will make a big difference if you change the setting. I think just it alone has saved me about $10-$15 a month.
- Get a programmable thermostat. This is especially useful if you live alone, or if you and your spouse both work the same schedule. In that case, you can dial back your heating/cooling while you’re at work, but have it back at a comfortable level when you arrive home at the end of the day.
- Turn off computer when you are not using it; even in idle mode it uses a lot of energy.
- Watch the "phantom energy"; all of those electronics continue to burn energy even when they are off. I use a power strip (surge protector). Plug it all in, and when you are not using it just turn the strip off.
- Close the closets. You don’t need them cooled or heated.
- Put a sealed jar or jug of water, or a brick, in your toilet tank. Doing so displaces water in the tank and causes you to use less. Of course, too little water when you flush can cause problems, so you’ll have to experiment with this one.
- Insulate your attic access. This can make a dramatic difference. A lot of people are actually getting a duct in their attics, and it has shown to make a big difference as well. Put weather stripping on your doors and windows. This works in apartments and houses.
